Trans Day of Visibility: Supporting the gender journey

For a Transgender person, the social construct of the modern gender binary can feel overwhelming and limiting. Moving between and beyond, it has historically been more than challenging — it's proven to have been downright dangerous!

It has become more common, world wide, knowing that there are many more ways to express “gender” than just “male” and “female" thanks to the brave work of generations of Transgender people that came before us, and their allies.

A brief history of Trans Visibility Day  

In 2009, a brilliant US Transgender Activist helped instate International Transgender Visibility Day. Rachel Crandall's goal of celebrating the living members of the transgender community has since been celebrated in many nations, on March 31, around the world.

In the words of Canada's Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, Bardish Chagger: "Fighting for gender diversity and equity benefits everyone." 

The concept of gender tends to be much more nuanced than we may have initially understood. Supporting our Transgender community members begins with accepting and understanding this.

5 topics to make mainstream that will help our Trans peers thrive

1. “Sex” < “Gender” = DIFFERENT

First, we need to recognize there is a difference between sex and gender:

  • Sex = the scientific term for our bodies based on the reproductive organs we have.

  • Gender = how we express ourselves, beyond the social constructs placed on us, due to our sex, at birth.

2. The spectrum of gender

Next, we can begin to learn about the spectrum of what it means to be Transgender:

  • There are those that feel the need to "transition" between the modern social constructs of "male" and "female" gender experience;

  • There are those who prefer to move away from those constructs completely by expressing their gender as: nonbinary, agender, genderfluid, and more. 

3. Language that matters

Then, we can start to ask about and learn ALL our friends' preferred forms of address, including:

  • Pronouns: he, she, they/them

  • Given vs chosen names

  • Honorifics: Mr., Ms., Mx.

4. “Transitioning” > “Sexuality” = DIFFERENT

Transitioning doesn’t happen in the same way for everyone and that it has no bearing on sexuality.

  • Some people will transition their body, moving from one sex to another, medically; while some will transition by using clothes, names and pronouns to help them express their evolving gender experience that has no bearing on any sex at all. 

  • Many Transitioning Transgendered people will remain in the same type of romantic relationship they were in before transitioning. Many even remain with the same person, who very likely helped them realize the truth in who they were.

5. Consent and disclosure

  • Be kind, understanding and respectful with your knowledge.

  • Don’t ask for unprompted, invasive details about someone’s life prior to transition.

  • Remember that disclosing details such as former names and pronouns without a person’s consent might not only create discomfort, as they may not have completely “come out” yet — but it could also compromise their safety!

Thriving comes with acceptance

Coming out Trans can be a leap of faith in one's community, eventually leading to support and connection. However, it can also be a terrifying experience if that person doesn't feel supported by their loved ones and peers. This is why it's so important to support everyone where they find themselves on their gender journeys.

Accept everyone as they invite us all on a journey of self-love, discovery. Understanding that opens the door for everyone to be their most true, authentic selves.

For more information, check out this Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.

Some Other Solutions